How are we going to celebrate? By making this a great month to be an All Things Jeep customer! We have good stuff planned all month long. I don't want to be one of those companies putting up Christmas Trees in September, but you just might want to consider holiday shopping a bit early.

Next, we'll be doing a buy 2, get 1 free special. After that, a great giveaway, great sales, and along the way, lots of freebies thrown into your boxes. (But we can't include birthday cake, it will get smooshed. Sorry.)

So hopefully you'll celebrate with us. Whether you make a purchase this month or not, please remember that we would not be here without you and it really is the customers that make a business. And we've got fantastic customers. Thank you for keeping our business growing.

Jean, Norman, Sue, Mike, Marc, Corinne & Sierra

(I really need to get a photo of all of us so you can see our goofy faces but here's Sierra - she's the cutest!)

Honestly I cannot believe we've only got one entry into our "It's a Jeep Thing" Contest. What's wrong with everyone? Five hundred dollars to spend on Jeep Products at All Things Jeep is the top prize. Did we offend you? Do you not have a digital camera with video mode? Are you on vacation? Is it in the works? What?!?!

On the other hand, we have an awesome entry into the contest. Worthy of $500? Maybe. Or do you have something better up your sleeve? Take a look...

The thing I always find annoying about Jeep bikini tops is that damn windshield channel. If you use a summer top, you need a windshield channel. And if you want to run with a soft top on, you need to take the windshield channel off. On off. On off. Until this Wrangler Summertime Top came along.

Here's a short video that shows the installation of this Jeep top on a Wrangler. It's quick, easy, and will keep the sun off your head.

The Spider Web Shade Top can be configured in multiple ways so you get just what you need for each ride.- As a Full Shade summer top, it keeps the sun off you and your passengers keeping you cool and protected from too many rays- Fold under the back of it to make a handy "stowaway" storage area to keep small items from blowing away - Drop it down behind the front seats and get the "WhatWind" configuraton which will dramatically reduce the wind blowing and noise level in the cab area. (This is similiar to the Mesh "WindJammers" sold by other companies.)

The SpiderWeb ShadeTopTM perfectly covers the front and rear seats of your Jeep Wrangler and keeps the cab lit with sun without scorching you. It also dramatically reduces the wind you feel on your face and in your ears when going at faster speeds.

And according to the manufacturer the ShadeTop catches 90% of the sun's harmful UV rays and reduces temperature inside the Jeep by an AMAZING 32% while still allowing just enough sunlight and moonlight through to enjoy the open air feeling. Finally, you can talk on the phone at 70mph with the top down.

SpiderWebTM ShadeTopTM for Jeeps proudly uses the finest commercial grade shade material, capable of blocking as much as 99% of ultraviolet rays, including 97% shade rating.

Installation takes only 10 minutes and there are no tools required. The best part is that it will NOT interfere with any other top applications. Install it under your hard top, soft top or even under a bikini. There is no hardware to buy, it attaches securely with the provided heavy-duty bungee-corded balls. There are no seams, ensuring a durable application.

So what are you waiting for? Get it now and start enjoying your Jeep more!

So, a few off-roading trips, a Jeep show and many conversations with those in the know has led me to reevaluate my original thoughts on the perfect Jeep for me. I once had high hopes and strict guidelines that seem to relax a little more each day. I wanted to revisit that original list of requirements and update you on where I stand with each now...

The original list, then & now...TJ:The thinking then: Despite Mike's undying love of his XJ, I want the openness of a Wrangler. I just can't afford a JK. I don't think I have the skills to restore and modify a CJ, but someday I will. So, the decision between TJ and YJ came down to the TJ's move away from the leaf spring suspension -- coils just provide a much smoother ride on the highway. Less importantly, I prefer the look of the round headlights.

The thinking now: I still want a Wrangler -- 4-wheeling for me serves the same purpose as backpacking or kayaking, getting outside and enjoying nature. It's more enticing to have an open top and no doors. I still can't afford a JK. I'm loosening up on accepting a YJ or CJ into my life. I assumed that all CJ's would be pretty little collectors' item -- no abuse allowed. There's only a limited number left and you have to take care of the ones still in existence, right? So wrong. I have gotten to see some beautiful CJ's tear up the trail and no one cares if they get a little trail pinstriping. They are also not all in such bad shape that the offer of beer and pizza to anyone who wanted to help couldn't get one trail ready.

On the matter of YJ's, they certainly can be found for a lot less money -- a big plus in my book right now. I can also learn to live with the differences in suspension. My Subaru will still be responsible for most long-haul trips, like visiting my sister or brother in Boston. The Jeep will of course, do most of the short hauls. I can live with a lesser suspension over a few miles. As for the 2-3 hours it takes to get to a good off-road trail, I can suck it up. A girl can suck up just about anything on a trail ride day! I have also grown really fond of square headlights. Maybe it's because of some things I've seen YJ's do on the trail, maybe it's my new love of classic Jeeps. Whatever it is, they just look cool -- sometimes you don't need to think about things any more deeply than that!

Manual Transmission:The thinking then: Definitely a personal choice thing. Lots of people on different boards swear by their automatic transmission, but there's just so much more control with a manual. NB: Automatic transmission are more expensive to replace.

The thinking now: Alright, so not everything's changed. I still feel like a stick is where it's at. I've watched my JonFund friends do some amazing things just by manipulating the clutch and never touching the gas or break.

Never Been Off-Road:The thinking then:If you've already beaten it up off road, I don't want it. I want to be the one to beat it up! I've become extremely wary of tow hooks and lifts, even if I know they were only added for show.

The thinking now:Was I completely mental or just naive? Money's tight and modifications are expensive. Yes, I have some good connections that can get me parts at a discount rate. Yes, I know people who will give their time to help do work in exchange for beer and pizza. Unfortunately, even the cost of cheap parts and victuals adds up. My first rig -- and all subsequent rigs, of course -- but especially my first rig will get beat to hell as I really learn how to drive off-road. All the observation hours in the world won't actually get me ready to drive on my own. There is no limit to the amount of beatings a good Jeep can take, especially if it gets a little love in between. I'm over it. Not to say that someday, when money springs eternal, I won't take a pristine, stock Jeep and modify the poop out of it, then gladly showing off each and every piece of damage like it was a child I had produced from my loins. I've said in the past that I like a car with some history, what's better history than a lifetime of wheeling?

The thinking now:Other than the correction you all gave me about I vs. V, this one hasn't changed either. The difference in power really can be the deciding factor between owning an obstacle or the obstacle owning you; I've seen it first hand.Written & Sponsored by www.AllThingsJeep.com and its employees.

This year we have something that's really gonna make you work! It's very simple in idea, and potentially complex in the execution of your entry. it's profound, really. Simply answer the question we pose here:

It's a Jeep Thing...You wouldn't understand. WHY?

Yes, WHY?

Tell us why it's a Jeep thing. Better yet, SHOW us why it's a Jeep thing.

We want you to create a short video (using a camcorder or the video mode of your digital camera) showing us why it's a Jeep thing. (Is your brain already thinking of what you could do? Good!)

So create that short video (30 seconds to 5 minutes is what we figure), upload it onto www.YouTube.com (for the world to see). Add some tags which will help us identify it as a contest entry. ex) All Things Jeep Contest

And maybe YOU could be the lucky winner of a $500 Gift Certificate to AllThingsJeep.com.

There's a bunch of rules and requirements (nothing you can't handle). You'll find them all here.

We imagine all sorts of cool entries - rock crawling, rap songs, improvisational dance routines, poetic interpretations spoken while fender deep in mud. You get the idea. And we can't wait to see them.

If you are not the creative type, or your camera still requires that you take your film down to Walmart to have it developed, well then sorry. Please participate by viewing the videos and voting for the ones you like best. They should be a lot of fun.

Frankly, this contest requires some effort. We don't expect a lot of entries because so many people are lazy. But that increases YOUR odds of winning. So skip work, rustle the kids out of bed, and get going! Your odds are good!

The contest runs the month of August 2009 and we'll post winners the first week of September. Let the games begin!